AZithromycin Against pLacebo in Exacerbations of Asthma
Information source: Imperial College London
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 23, 2015 Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Asthma
Intervention: Zithromax (Drug); Placebo (Drug)
Phase: Phase 4
Status: Completed
Sponsored by: Imperial College London Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s): Sebastian L Johnston, MBBS, PhD, FRCP, Study Chair, Affiliation: Imperial College London
Summary
Acute attacks (exacerbations) of asthma are common and cause a great deal of suffering in
asthmatic patients. Current treatments for asthma attacks are not completely effective and
new and better treatments are needed. Viruses often cause asthma attacks and bacterial lung
infections have also been associated with asthma attacks. However, the role for bacteria is
uncertain. Current asthma guidelines for doctors treating asthma exacerbations do not
recommend the routine use of antibiotics. The investigators would like to investigate
whether or not azithromycin, which is a safe and well tolerated antibiotic (an
antibacterial) that has been used for many years in the treatment of respiratory disease,
might be of benefit in asthma attacks. As there is some evidence that azithromycin has
anti-viral properties this may add to its benefits (antibiotics don't usually affect
viruses). By looking at the effect of azithromycin on asthma attacks this will help us to
show whether or not azithromycin should be recommended during an acute asthma attack in
addition to the usual care that is provided to these patients as it may help them recover
quicker from the exacerbation. The investigators will also be able to look at why
azithromycin may be effective - if it is having an anti-bacterial and/or anti-viral effect.
Clinical Details
Official title: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Oral Azithromycin (500 Mg OD) as a Supplement to Standard Care for Adult Patients With Acute Exacerbations of Asthma
Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment
Primary outcome: Diary card summary symptom score
Secondary outcome: Quality of lifeTime to 50% reduction in symptom score Pulmonary Function tests
Eligibility
Minimum age: 18 Years.
Maximum age: N/A.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
Inclusion criteria
Patients meeting all of the following criteria will be considered for admission to the
study:
- Adults, either sex, ages 18-55 years or age 56 to 65 with < 20 pack year smoking
history or >65 with <5 pack year smoking history
- Patients with a documented history of asthma for >6 consecutive months, and
- Patients presenting within 48 hours (of initial presentation to medical care) with an
acute deterioration in asthma control (increased wheeze, dyspnea and/or cough and/or
reduced PEF) and requiring a course of oral steroids
- Patients with a PEF or FEV1 less than 80% of predicted normal or patient's best at
presentation, at recruitment or in the time elapsed between presentation and
recruitment
- Patients must be able to complete diaries and quality of life questionnaires.
- Patients must sign and date an informed consent prior to any study procedures.
Exclusion criteria
Patients presenting with any of the following will not be included in the study:
- Patients with known prolongation of the QT interval, a history of torsades de
pointes, congenital long QT syndrome, bradyarrhythmias or uncompensated heart
failure, patients on drugs known to prolong the QT interval and patients with ongoing
proarrhythmic conditions such as uncorrected hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia,
clinically significant bradycardia, and patients receiving Class IA (quinidine,
procainamide) or Class III (dofetilide, aminodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmic agents.
- Smokers aged 56-65 with a >20 pack year history, or aged >65 with >5 pack year
history
- Patients requiring immediate placement in ICU
- Patients who used oral or systemic antibiotics within 28 days prior to enrolment
- Patients with known impaired hepatic function (ALT/AST > 2 ULN)
- Patients with significant lung disease (including COPD) other than asthma
- Patients with > 20mg oral corticosteroid maintenance therapy
- Patients requiring other antibiotic therapy
- Patients who are receiving other medications or who have other disease conditions or
infections that could interfere with the evaluation of drug efficacy or safety
- Women who are breast-feeding or are pregnant, as demonstrated by a urine pregnancy
test carried out before exposure to study medication or the start of any study
procedure that could pose a risk to the foetus
- Patients with suspected or known hypersensitivity to, or suspected serious adverse
reaction to Azithromycin or any of the macrolide or ketolide class of antibiotics,
erythromycin or to any excipients thereof
- Patients who have received treatment with any other investigational drug within 1
month prior to study entry, or have such treatment planned for the study period
during treatment and follow up phase
- Patients with a concomitant condition (including clinically relevant cardiovascular,
hepatic, neurologic, endocrine, or other major systemic disease) making
implementation of the protocol or interpretation of the study results difficult
- Patients with mental conditions rendering them unable to understand the nature,
scope, and possible consequences of the study.
- Patients unlikely to comply with the protocol, e. g., uncooperative attitude,
inability to return for follow-up visits.
- No subject will be allowed to enrol in this study more than once.
Locations and Contacts
Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B9 5SS, United Kingdom
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Blackpool FY3 8NR, United Kingdom
University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 0YN, United Kingdom
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Foundation Trust, Leicester LE39QP, United Kingdom
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
University Hospital of South Manchester Foundation Trust, Manchester M23 9QZ, United Kingdom
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle NE7 7DN, United Kingdom
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham NG5 1PB, United Kingdom
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Portsmouth PO6 3LY, United Kingdom
University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton-on-Tees TS19 8PE, United Kingdom
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton in Ashfield NG17 4JL, United Kingdom
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation, Barnsley, England S75 2EP, United Kingdom
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, England CH2 1UL, United Kingdom
Surrey & Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Surrey, England RH1 5RH, United Kingdom
Additional Information
Starting date: September 2011
Last updated: July 22, 2014
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